A LOT of things in my life have happened by accident. I became a physics teacher rather than a chemistry teacher simply because I dialled the wrong telephone number.

I stood for election as a town councillor — not completely by accident, because I did have to fill in the forms — but I certainly didn’t expect to be elected.

And once elected, I didn’t expect to feel so at home speaking up in meetings, even when the conversations were awkward or the room felt tense.

Very quickly, I became passionate about helping members of the public feel more welcome in those meetings. Local democracy shouldn’t feel like a private club or a courtroom.

It should feel like a conversation among neighbours who all care about the same small patch of the world.

That was why I proposed a change to our Standing Orders, allowing residents to speak during meetings without the council having to pause everything and formally “suspend standing orders”, as though public involvement were a disruption rather than part of the whole point.

For several months, we tried this new freedom. People spoke more easily, asked questions, and shared perspectives that councillors simply wouldn’t have known otherwise.

Some residents did feel frustrated when answers didn’t come as quickly or clearly as they hoped.

A few pursued their points long after the matter was settled. Some councillors embraced the openness; others found it less comfortable.

Recently, the change was overturned because it was felt that members of the public were causing too much… “discourse”. I was disappointed — but that’s how it goes. Sometimes good ideas don’t land the first time.

I understand why many people don’t engage in local politics. Life is busy.

The procedures can be dull. But small decisions really do shape our towns. They change crossings, create green spaces, support community groups, and make life a little more pleasant and a little safer.

I recently asked an AI app for examples of Town Councils who had made differences around the country.

To my delight, the Food Larder — initially helped by a small Crediton Town Council grant — was listed.

Other councils have made lovely, practical improvements: in Stroud, for example, children helped design bright, friendly markings for a walking bus route, making the daily trip to school safer and more cheerful.

These aren’t grand national schemes — just ordinary people shaping their own communities.

I applaud Tiverton Town Council for speaking out against the Boxing Day Hunt Meet. And closer to home, the long-imagined Crediton to Exeter cycle track — the Boniface Trail — is gaining visibility and debate.

Here in Crediton, we have wonderful residents who attend meetings regularly. Some are a little awkward, yes, but they raise excellent points.

Still, it would be even better to have a wider mix of voices. That small group needs balancing with new faces and new perspectives.

I encourage everyone to take a greater interest in local politics.

You can make changes far more easily locally than nationally — and they genuinely matter.

Rachel Backhouse

Crediton Town Councillor